Yesterday Washington held the 2012 primary election. The election helps to clear a crowded field of state and local candidates in Washington’s top-two primary system.

Though the top-two vote “getters” advance to the general election in November, some races remain unclear due to low statewide voter turnout.  Currently only 27.5 percent of voters turned out for the primary election. This includes ballots already counted and ballots that arrived at county elections offices but must still be run through the machines. Though the turnout number is expected to increase it is also expected to be very shy of the expected turnout for a presidential election this fall.

In the last presidential election, in 2008, participation was 84.6%. In comparison in a presidential election year, Washington turnout for the primary usually attracts between half and two-thirds of those who participate in the general election. The low voter turnout makes it more difficult to predict what will happen in November – which is not usually the case – because it will be hard to tell which subset of the population actually voted.

Moving forward to the general election in  November, at the time of this post (August 8 2012)  are the following federal, state and local candidates:

• U.S. Senate: Maria Cantwell (56%) and Michael Baumgartner (30%)
• U.S. Representative 6th District: Derek Kilmer (54%) and Bil Driscoll (18%)
• U.S. Representative 10th District: Denny Heck (41%) and Dick Muri (27%)
• Governor: Jay Inslee (47%)  and Rob McKenna (43%)
• Lieutenant Governor: Brad Owen (49%) and Bill Finkbeiner (25%)
• Secretary of State: Kim Wyman (39%) and Kathleen Drew (21%)
• State Auditor: James Watkins (46%) and Troy Kelley (24%)
• Attorney General: Bob Ferguson (52%) and Reagan Dunn (38%)
• Commissioner of Public Lands: Peter Goldmark (52%)  and Clint Didier (41%)
• Superintendent of Public Instruction: Randy Dorn (55%) and Ron Higgins (16%)
• Insurance Commissioner: Mike Kreidler (55%) and John Adams (22%)
• Legislators for the 22nd District: Karen Fraser (100%), Chris Reykdal (100%), and Sam Hunt (100%)
• Legislators for the 35th District (Position 1): Kathy Haigh (54%) and Dan Griffey (46%)
• Legislators for the 35th District (Position 2): Drew MacEwen (41%) and Lynda Ring-Erickson (29%)